Classical Nahuatl (also known simply as Aztec or Nahuatl) is any of the variants of Nahuatl spoken in the Valley of Mexico— and central Mexico as a lingua franca— at the time of the 16th-century Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. During the subsequent centuries it was largely displaced by Spanish and evolved into some of the modern Nahuan languages in use today (other modern dialects descend more directly from other 16th-century variants.) Although classified as an extinct language, Classical Nahuatl has survived through a multitude of written sources transcribed by Nahua peoples and Spaniards in the Latin script.
Classification
Classical Nahuatl is one of the Nahuan languages within the Uto-Aztecan family. It is classified as a central dialect and is most closely related to the modern dialects of Nahuatl spoken in the valley of Mexico in colonial and modern times. It is probable that the Classical Nahuatl documented by 16th- and 17th-century written sources represents a particularly prestigious sociolect. That is to say, the variety of Nahuatl recorded in these documents is most likely to be more particularly representative of the speech of Aztec nobles (pīpiltin), while the commoners (mācēhualtin) spoke a somewhat different variety.
I tried to do as neutral an accent as possible while still keeping plausible intonations and quirks that modern monolingual Nahuatl speakers have.
published: 06 Nov 2019
Classical Nahuatl lesson: Greetings
These are basic lessons for english-speakers to learn classic nahuatl (the nahuatl spoken by the Aztec people during the spanish conquest).
published: 03 Jan 2017
Classical Nahuatl terms
A few terms used in AZTEC dancing
published: 04 Apr 2020
12 Weeks of Nahuatl - Introduction
I begin a twelve week period of learning Classical Nahuatl.
Music: Kevin McLeod - Jazz Brunch
published: 16 Jun 2018
Gringo Speaks AZTEC (Nahuatl) In Mexico! How Did They React? (#1)
I traveled to Mexico City to look for people that still spoke Nahuatl. The Aztec language, called Nahuatl, is still spoken by over a million people in Mexico today, and according to the stats, 7% of Mexico City speaks it. I tried learning Nahuatl to see a different side of Mexico. But where are these Nahuatl speakers hiding!? Along the way I got to learn a lot about languages I had never heard of before: Otomi, Zapotec, Mixtec, Tseltal and more.
...
published: 12 Dec 2020
Spoken Nahuatl
I'm still a student of Nahuatl. However, I speak it well enough to create many sentences
published: 29 Sep 2014
What Montezuma's Aztec Sounded Like - and how we know
The Aztecs didn't call him Montezuma. Nor Moctezuma. They didn't call chocolate "chocolate". Heck, they didn't even call themselves Aztec! Though they were an oral culture, we have an idea of what their language really sounded like. Here's why.
Subscribe for language: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=NativLang
Follow my progress or become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=584038
~ Corrections ~
As MajoraZ was kind to point out, rulers normally wore the Xiuhuitzolli (turquoise diadem) rather than the Quetzalapanecayotl (feathered headdress) shown here.
As Rodrigo Chacón comments, the transitive "nicua" is not used alone. Instead, expect to find "nitlacua" (indefinite -tla-) or "niccua" (definite -c-). Here's a better illustration for building the verb: "ni___...
published: 13 Jan 2017
Basic Vocabulary in Classical Nahuatl language
Basic Vocabulary of Classical Nahuatl language.
Classical Nahuatl was spoken by Aztecs during Aztec Empire of Pre-Colombian period, before Conquistadores came and destroyed the population.
Contact me if you need it:
[email protected]
I traveled to Mexico City to look for people that still spoke Nahuatl. The Aztec language, called Nahuatl, is still spoken by over a million people in Mexico t...
I traveled to Mexico City to look for people that still spoke Nahuatl. The Aztec language, called Nahuatl, is still spoken by over a million people in Mexico today, and according to the stats, 7% of Mexico City speaks it. I tried learning Nahuatl to see a different side of Mexico. But where are these Nahuatl speakers hiding!? Along the way I got to learn a lot about languages I had never heard of before: Otomi, Zapotec, Mixtec, Tseltal and more.
Want to continue the Nahuatl journey, but this time in a place where the language is actually spoken everywhere? Go here:
https://youtu.be/dI54zGWyZ7U
I traveled to Mexico City to look for people that still spoke Nahuatl. The Aztec language, called Nahuatl, is still spoken by over a million people in Mexico today, and according to the stats, 7% of Mexico City speaks it. I tried learning Nahuatl to see a different side of Mexico. But where are these Nahuatl speakers hiding!? Along the way I got to learn a lot about languages I had never heard of before: Otomi, Zapotec, Mixtec, Tseltal and more.
Want to continue the Nahuatl journey, but this time in a place where the language is actually spoken everywhere? Go here:
https://youtu.be/dI54zGWyZ7U
The Aztecs didn't call him Montezuma. Nor Moctezuma. They didn't call chocolate "chocolate". Heck, they didn't even call themselves Aztec! Though they were an o...
The Aztecs didn't call him Montezuma. Nor Moctezuma. They didn't call chocolate "chocolate". Heck, they didn't even call themselves Aztec! Though they were an oral culture, we have an idea of what their language really sounded like. Here's why.
Subscribe for language: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=NativLang
Follow my progress or become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=584038
~ Corrections ~
As MajoraZ was kind to point out, rulers normally wore the Xiuhuitzolli (turquoise diadem) rather than the Quetzalapanecayotl (feathered headdress) shown here.
As Rodrigo Chacón comments, the transitive "nicua" is not used alone. Instead, expect to find "nitlacua" (indefinite -tla-) or "niccua" (definite -c-). Here's a better illustration for building the verb: "ni___cua".
~ Are you reading instead of watching? (no spoilers) ~
He's commonly known to English-speakers as Montezuma and Moctezuma in Spanish, but his language is a different story. Travel to Mexico and dig into language history. Look at early colonial writers and grammarians, learn their strengths and limitations, then move onto some surprising old and new evidence.
Along the way, you'll learn what the Aztecs called themselves and their language and how they really said "chocolate". You'll study a bit of their fancy grammar. You'll hear me take a shot at pronouncing the reconstructed form of Montezuma's own name as it would've been pronounced in old Tenochtitlan. You'll see how it took modern linguistics to sort out some of the historical evolution of the language's sounds from classical to modern times. Finally, you'll learn about the dramatic differences between common speech and ritual speech. In the end, you can see how the pronunciation, grammar and style leave us with an understanding of Montezuma that's more complex, but also more beautiful, than if his language were a simple Mexican monolith.
~ CREDITS ~
Art, narration and animation by Josh from NativLang. Some of the music, too.
Sources for claims and credits for sfx, images and music:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BGaFnFZ9SJN1QjK2-FlgnvoF5EGoRiIkTZd09mCVEVo/
The Aztecs didn't call him Montezuma. Nor Moctezuma. They didn't call chocolate "chocolate". Heck, they didn't even call themselves Aztec! Though they were an oral culture, we have an idea of what their language really sounded like. Here's why.
Subscribe for language: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=NativLang
Follow my progress or become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=584038
~ Corrections ~
As MajoraZ was kind to point out, rulers normally wore the Xiuhuitzolli (turquoise diadem) rather than the Quetzalapanecayotl (feathered headdress) shown here.
As Rodrigo Chacón comments, the transitive "nicua" is not used alone. Instead, expect to find "nitlacua" (indefinite -tla-) or "niccua" (definite -c-). Here's a better illustration for building the verb: "ni___cua".
~ Are you reading instead of watching? (no spoilers) ~
He's commonly known to English-speakers as Montezuma and Moctezuma in Spanish, but his language is a different story. Travel to Mexico and dig into language history. Look at early colonial writers and grammarians, learn their strengths and limitations, then move onto some surprising old and new evidence.
Along the way, you'll learn what the Aztecs called themselves and their language and how they really said "chocolate". You'll study a bit of their fancy grammar. You'll hear me take a shot at pronouncing the reconstructed form of Montezuma's own name as it would've been pronounced in old Tenochtitlan. You'll see how it took modern linguistics to sort out some of the historical evolution of the language's sounds from classical to modern times. Finally, you'll learn about the dramatic differences between common speech and ritual speech. In the end, you can see how the pronunciation, grammar and style leave us with an understanding of Montezuma that's more complex, but also more beautiful, than if his language were a simple Mexican monolith.
~ CREDITS ~
Art, narration and animation by Josh from NativLang. Some of the music, too.
Sources for claims and credits for sfx, images and music:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BGaFnFZ9SJN1QjK2-FlgnvoF5EGoRiIkTZd09mCVEVo/
Basic Vocabulary of Classical Nahuatl language.
Classical Nahuatl was spoken by Aztecs during Aztec Empire of Pre-Colombian period, before Conquistadores came ...
Basic Vocabulary of Classical Nahuatl language.
Classical Nahuatl was spoken by Aztecs during Aztec Empire of Pre-Colombian period, before Conquistadores came and destroyed the population.
Contact me if you need it:
[email protected]
Basic Vocabulary of Classical Nahuatl language.
Classical Nahuatl was spoken by Aztecs during Aztec Empire of Pre-Colombian period, before Conquistadores came and destroyed the population.
Contact me if you need it:
[email protected]
I traveled to Mexico City to look for people that still spoke Nahuatl. The Aztec language, called Nahuatl, is still spoken by over a million people in Mexico today, and according to the stats, 7% of Mexico City speaks it. I tried learning Nahuatl to see a different side of Mexico. But where are these Nahuatl speakers hiding!? Along the way I got to learn a lot about languages I had never heard of before: Otomi, Zapotec, Mixtec, Tseltal and more.
Want to continue the Nahuatl journey, but this time in a place where the language is actually spoken everywhere? Go here:
https://youtu.be/dI54zGWyZ7U
The Aztecs didn't call him Montezuma. Nor Moctezuma. They didn't call chocolate "chocolate". Heck, they didn't even call themselves Aztec! Though they were an oral culture, we have an idea of what their language really sounded like. Here's why.
Subscribe for language: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=NativLang
Follow my progress or become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=584038
~ Corrections ~
As MajoraZ was kind to point out, rulers normally wore the Xiuhuitzolli (turquoise diadem) rather than the Quetzalapanecayotl (feathered headdress) shown here.
As Rodrigo Chacón comments, the transitive "nicua" is not used alone. Instead, expect to find "nitlacua" (indefinite -tla-) or "niccua" (definite -c-). Here's a better illustration for building the verb: "ni___cua".
~ Are you reading instead of watching? (no spoilers) ~
He's commonly known to English-speakers as Montezuma and Moctezuma in Spanish, but his language is a different story. Travel to Mexico and dig into language history. Look at early colonial writers and grammarians, learn their strengths and limitations, then move onto some surprising old and new evidence.
Along the way, you'll learn what the Aztecs called themselves and their language and how they really said "chocolate". You'll study a bit of their fancy grammar. You'll hear me take a shot at pronouncing the reconstructed form of Montezuma's own name as it would've been pronounced in old Tenochtitlan. You'll see how it took modern linguistics to sort out some of the historical evolution of the language's sounds from classical to modern times. Finally, you'll learn about the dramatic differences between common speech and ritual speech. In the end, you can see how the pronunciation, grammar and style leave us with an understanding of Montezuma that's more complex, but also more beautiful, than if his language were a simple Mexican monolith.
~ CREDITS ~
Art, narration and animation by Josh from NativLang. Some of the music, too.
Sources for claims and credits for sfx, images and music:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BGaFnFZ9SJN1QjK2-FlgnvoF5EGoRiIkTZd09mCVEVo/
Basic Vocabulary of Classical Nahuatl language.
Classical Nahuatl was spoken by Aztecs during Aztec Empire of Pre-Colombian period, before Conquistadores came and destroyed the population.
Contact me if you need it:
[email protected]
Classical Nahuatl (also known simply as Aztec or Nahuatl) is any of the variants of Nahuatl spoken in the Valley of Mexico— and central Mexico as a lingua franca— at the time of the 16th-century Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. During the subsequent centuries it was largely displaced by Spanish and evolved into some of the modern Nahuan languages in use today (other modern dialects descend more directly from other 16th-century variants.) Although classified as an extinct language, Classical Nahuatl has survived through a multitude of written sources transcribed by Nahua peoples and Spaniards in the Latin script.
Classification
Classical Nahuatl is one of the Nahuan languages within the Uto-Aztecan family. It is classified as a central dialect and is most closely related to the modern dialects of Nahuatl spoken in the valley of Mexico in colonial and modern times. It is probable that the Classical Nahuatl documented by 16th- and 17th-century written sources represents a particularly prestigious sociolect. That is to say, the variety of Nahuatl recorded in these documents is most likely to be more particularly representative of the speech of Aztec nobles (pīpiltin), while the commoners (mācēhualtin) spoke a somewhat different variety.
The showpiece will be on display at the April 27 gala. (BICF/courtesy photo) ... (BICF/courtesy photo) ... ADVERTISING ... 1 p.m ... 1 ... The word “chocolate” comes from the classical Nahuatl word “xocolatl” which means bitter (xoco) water (atl).
The Toltecs named the area “grasshopper hill”, which would later be named Chapoltepēc in Nahuatl, meaning “at the grasshopper hill”. During the ClassicPeriod, the region was ...
And it is written in both Spanish and Nahuatl, the language of the Nahua ... Gaillemin, who has a deep knowledge of classical Nahuatl, points to an illustration of an aquatic cave that appears in Book 11.
To help remedy this knowledge gap, de la Cruz is working on translating the Florentine Codex — a 16th-century ethnographic study originally written in classical Nahuatl describing Mexica culture, ...
Xiuhcoatl, translated as ‘turquoise serpent’ in Classical Nahuatl was another serpent deity who was the Aztec fire god interpreted as the embodiment of the dry season and was the weapon of the sun.